A significant bust in San Antonio targeted a sex and human trafficking ring allegedly run by the Tren de Aragua gang, leading to the arrest of over 140 undocumented individuals, officials announced on Monday.
This operation was a collaborative effort involving the Texas Department of Public Safety alongside federal and local authorities, as confirmed by Texas Governor Gregg Abbott.
On the same day, a regional Homeland Security Task Force was established to tackle transnational criminal organizations. The task force’s objectives include dismantling drug cartels, confronting foreign terrorist groups, and breaking down criminal syndicates engaged in activities such as human trafficking, drug smuggling, and money laundering.
There remains some mystery surrounding the motivations for the early morning traffic stop conducted by ICE agents.
The raid, conducted on Sunday, aligns with an executive order from President Donald Trump dated January 20, which prioritizes action against transnational criminal entities.
Among those detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were over 140 individuals hailing from Venezuela, Honduras, Mexico, and various other South American nations.
The raid involved multiple federal agencies.
“The Homeland Security Task Force enables the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to bring its sophisticated investigative techniques to the table, which have been instrumental in capturing the most violent drug trafficking organizations in the United States and worldwide,” said the Houston Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, along with other federal law enforcement agencies. Federal authorities conducted a raid Sunday in San Antonio, Texas, making more than 140 arrests, authorities said. (Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“We look forward to working hand in hand with our federal and state counterparts in bringing down drug traffickers pumping poison into our neighborhoods and devastating our communities,” he added.
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, whose brother served as mayor of San Antonio, said he has asked the Justice Department and local agencies for more information on the raid. He claimed that raids conducted elsewhere have seen U.S. citizens and immigrants with no criminal record arrested.
Meanwhile, in Houston, ICE arrested 3,500 criminal illegal aliens, including child predators and murderers, during the 43-day government shutdown.
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) speaks during a news conference in February. (Getty)
The suspects taken into custody include 13 people convicted of murder, 51 child predators, 67 sex offenders and 23 gang members, including an MS-13 gang member charged with a triple homicide in Dallas, authorities said.
